Lay off the anti-aircraft artillery, because Repticilus is (probably not) The Greatest Movie EVER!

Click on the lobby card or the title above to download our review of the film, featuring M.O.M., the Mistress of Malapropisms.

Review in a Nutshell: A Danish / American co-production sponsored in part by American International Pictures, Reptilicus is one part giant monster movie, one part travelogue, and one part puzzling artifact of the mysteries of international productions. Apparently, in the Danish version of the film, there is at least one more musical number, and also the titular monster can fly.

FINAL THOUGHT:

This is an actual screen capture that from Reptilicus, highlighting the movie’s “spectacular” special effects.

10 Responses

I had no idea this movie was so bad. I have that DVD 4-pack, but haven’t seen it yet. Movie was always notable to me because it has a similar title as Reptilian, which I saw a minute of on TV as a child and thought it looked cool, and as such made the movie Reptilian a part of my life. And as a consequence of that, Reptilicus has also been a part of my life…

Paul, I sincerely wanted to thank you for your awesome podcast. I realize that to you this is just something you probably do for fun but your reviews have gotten me through some dark years. The entertainment you have provided has helped me through my depression as I suddenly found myself abandoned by my family.

Specifically your collaborations with Dave and Joel from fast karate, Daryl Surat, and of course Sean Hollywood Hunting. (Conan the Barbarian, Hard Target, Commando, Bloodsport all your Nic Cage reviews just to name a few. Pure gold my friend. Thank you for the laughs and please keep up the excellent work.

Thanks for the kind words. I’m glad I was able to make your life a little better, if only in a small way. I’m sorry about the situation with your family, but I’m glad you’re hanging in there. Depression is a terrible thing, and hearing that my work has provided comfort to people in their times of need helps me keep doing what I do.

Yeah that AIP poster does make the movie look that badass than it wasn’t. The Danish poster not even close with its more cartoonier looking dragon/reptile hybrid.

AIP wasn’t known for anything good back then I’ve noticed, usually typical B-flicks that were the mainstays of drive-in theaters through the 60’s and 70’s before FIlmways bought the library, then Orion and now MGM. MGM rarely acknowledges AIP’s existence as Orion or even their studio name takes the copyright on a lot of stuff.

Hearing of the film getting redubbed despite the effort Mr. Pink had in filming an English version to start with makes me wonder what led to dropping the lawsuit they had with AIP. Did Mr. Pink really think it was an “improvement”? I would think cropping a movie during the monster scenes would’ve been enough to still press charges on the tampering. I guess we’ll never know since he passed away 14 years ago, sadly before trying to get a sequel out after the ‘success’ of Godzilla ’98. I suppose I’d be pretty interested in that “Sing-song” version of the dialogue had that version existed. Seems like AIP just did a stupid job like usual (not even making you have a reason to care for anyone in the story, every one of their movies was like that in the 60’s). Surprised the film isn’t in the Public Domain or every bargain DVD compay would’ve crapped out a copy by now.

It’s interesting that MST3K didn’t tackle this film (as they did with Gorgo). Perhaps that’s something we could pester the RiffTrax guys with hopefully.

I didn’t realize that the cheaply-animated “acid spray” was added by AIP to cover the original “fire breath” effect – or that it sounds like the original story had Reptilicus closer to a Mythological Dragon than to an irradiated Big Lizard. I can’t help but wonder if the original movie might not have been better – or at least, a bit more interesting than a cheap Godzilla knockoff.

“I didn’t realize that the cheaply-animated “acid spray” was added by AIP to cover the original “fire breath” effect”

I wonder if they were trying to imply the guys died from being disintegrated by the slime/gak crap?

“– or that it sounds like the original story had Reptilicus closer to a Mythological Dragon than to an irradiated Big Lizard. I can’t help but wonder if the original movie might not have been better – or at least, a bit more interesting than a cheap Godzilla knockoff.”

I suppose that’s one question we’ll never know the answer to at all, given most of those people are dead now. This was definitely a drive-in film for couples interested in a little back-seat action than paying attention to the mvie

This was definitely a drive-in film for couples interested in a little back-seat action than paying attention to the movie

Actually, Chris – It sounds like it was originally more of a crowd-pleaser for Danish/Scandinavian tastes (hence the prominent billing of comic relief Dirch Passer), which might be why the producers thought they could get away with an obvious wooden puppet for Repticilus? I see the original (unused) Danish title was Dirch and the Dragon, which suggests that the Danish version at least was supposed to be about him and this silly-looking creature.

I’m surprised to hear that the Danish cast had to learn their English phonetically – maybe things really changed in the fifty years since it was made, but when Tammy and I went to Denmark last year, almost everybody spoke some English, and a large number of people (admittedly, Tammy’s fans) spoke it fluently with an accent that sounded suspiciously like Minnesotans.

Thanks for finally review Reptillicus. A little backgound on Dirch Passer. At the time he was the biggest star on screen but also very exploited and many times the script would say “Dirch enters and does something funny”.
Love your show. Regards from Denmark

I’m surprised to hear that the Danish cast had to learn their English phonetically – maybe things really changed in the fifty years since it was made, but when Tammy and I went to Denmark last year, almost everybody spoke some English, and a large number of people (admittedly, Tammy’s fans) spoke it fluently with an accent that sounded suspiciously like Minnesotans.

Times do change Tim! I’m certain English is a required course in schools over there these days.

Thanks for finally review Reptillicus. A little backgound on Dirch Passer. At the time he was the biggest star on screen but also very exploited and many times the script would say “Dirch enters and does something funny”.
Love your show. Regards from Denmark

At least we get to learn something new over a film that was basic drive-in fodder over here.